Public Health Law News: Changing the law to address environmental hazards with James Ledlie

Public Health Law News Each issue features legal news relating to public health and includes announcements; top national, state, and local stories; state and federal court opinions; and interviews.

Interview with James Ledlie

Member attorney, Motley Rice LLC

State Rabies Vaccine Laws for Domestic Dogs, Cats, and Ferrets in the United States: Map and Legal Epidemiology Dataset

Rabies, a fatal virus that attacks the central nervous system, is most commonly transmitted when a rabid animal bites another animal or person. Without prophylactic measures, the infection will result in death within days of onset. This map and accompanying legal epidemiology dataset includes information on state-level pre-exposure rabies vaccination laws for domestic dogs, cats, and ferrets across the United States. This dataset was created by CDC’s Public Health Law Program (PHLP) and is published on LawAtlas, part of the Policy Surveillance Program at Temple University.

Public Health Emergency Law Online Training

CDC’s Public Health Emergency Law (PHEL) course prepares state, tribal, local, and territorial practitioners to make informed legal decisions related to emergency preparedness and response activities. PHEL consists of three competency-based units and covers legal issues to consider before, during, and after public health emergencies. Each interactive unit takes about 40 minutes to complete.

Legal Epidemiology in Practice: Exploring the Impact of Food Desert Laws and Policies in Louisville, KY

Temple University’s Center for Public Health is hosting a webinar on Tuesday, April 23, at 1‒2 pm (EDT) in collaboration with PHLP and ChangeLab Solutions. The webinar will focus on the Louisville Metro Health Department’s year-long legal epidemiology project with PHLP on local policy incentives to increase access to healthy food.

Job Opening: Special Advisor to the Chief Medical Officer

The March of Dimes is seeking applications for a new position with the organization: special advisor to the chief medical and health officer (CMHO). The special advisor will work directly with the CMHO on key policy, systems, and strategic issues to improve the health of moms and babies. The position will be based in Arlington, Virginia, and will remain open until filled.

Pay to Play? State Laws Related to High School Sports Participation Fees

A new article in the Journal of Public Health Management and Practice analyzes the laws and regulations on sports participation fees and the impact of these laws. Pay-to-play fees are created when school sports programs can no longer be supported by a school’s budget.

Status of Protections in the U.S. for Victims of Domestic Violence in Same-Sex Couples

The Network for Public Health Law has published an issue brief on how unmarried same-sex couples are protected under domestic violence laws. When the landmark Obergefell case in 2015 allowed same-sex couples to marry, same-sex couples also became protected under the law in domestic violence cases. However, the laws are questionable as to whether unmarried couples have equitable protections under domestic violence laws.